Biochemical properties of mitochondria fromCandida albicans

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Abstract
Mitochondrial particles, to which the bulk of the succinoxidase and cytochrome oxidase activities were exclusively bound, were isolated from Candida albicans after disrupting the growing cells in a mortar with quartz sand. Electron-microscopic examination of the mitochondrial preparation showed that it mainly contained native and submitochondrial particles. Mitochondria thus prepared could couple phosphorylation to oxidation of various substrates including TCA cycle members, exogenous NADH, glutamate, ethanol, and D- and L-lactate. P/O ratios obtained with these substrates corresponded closely to those reported for mitochondria from other fungi, approximately 1 unit lower than P/O ratios with mammalian intact mitochondria, whereas much lower respiratory control ratios were observed. Oligomycin strongly inhibited oxidative phosphorylation and Mg++-induced ATPase activity. The effects of inhibitors of electron transfer such as amytal, rotenone, antimycin A or sodium azide on Candida mitochondria were similar to those on mammalian mitochondria and it is of note that the sensitivity of oxidation of both a-ketoglutarate and NADH by C. albicans mitochondria to rotenone exceeded those of any mitochondrial preparations of other fungi.